Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hsien (US Patent Publication 20060032753) in view of Jang (US Patent 5,714,066).
Regarding Claim 1, Hsien shows a multipurpose faucet configured to be installed onto a sink and configured for separately dispensing a first supply of water and a second supply of water from a water source, the multipurpose faucet comprising: a first valve (23) configured to dispense the first supply of water through a spout (see annotated figure below), a second valve (3) configured to dispense the second supply of water through an accessory supply coupling (27), a main handle (see annotated figure below) configured to open and close the first valve wherein the main handle is disposed above the first valve (23, Fig. 4), a supply handle (see annotated figure below) configured to open and close the second valve wherein the supply handle is disposed above the second valve (paragraph 28); a set of water lines (21,22), comprising a hot water hose (22), a cold water hose (21), and an accessory water supply hose (27); wherein the hot water hose and the cold water hose each connect the water source to the first valve (paragraph 23), and wherein the accessory water supply hose connects the water source to the second valve (paragraph 29); wherein the accessory supply coupling is configured receive a connector hose (paragraph 29); and wherein the connector hose supplies the second supply of water to an external device (water-electrolyzing machine; paragraph 29). Hsien fails to show the accessory supply coupling and the connector hose are disposed below the supply handle. Jang teaches a faucet having an accessory supply coupling (110) and the connector hose are disposed below a supply handle (121). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the accessory supply coupling and the connector hose are disposed below the supply handle in order to allow for the external device to be easily attached to the faucet.
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Regarding Claim 2, Hsein shows the multipurpose faucet of claim 1, wherein the external device is a water ionizer (paragraph 29).
Regarding Claim 3, Hsein shows the multipurpose faucet of claim 1, comprising a faucet body (2), wherein the spout extends upwards from the faucet body (fig.1), and a mounting shaft (see annotated figure below) extends below the faucet body.
Regarding claim 4, Hsein shows the multipurpose faucet of claim 3, wherein the mounting shaft comprises a hollow interior (see annotated figure below) and the set of water lines pass through the hollow interior (Fig.2).
Regarding Claim 5, Hsein shows the multipurpose faucet of claim 1, wherein the multipurpose faucet is configured to be installed onto the sink by installing the multipurpose faucet into a hole of an existing countertop having a set of water connectors (end of 22, 21), such that each hose of the set of water lines is connected to a corresponding water connector of the set of water connectors provided underneath the existing countertop (paragraph 23).
Regarding Claim 6, Hsein shows the multipurpose faucet of claim 1, further comprising a securing means (see annotated figure below) on the accessory supply coupling for securely fastening the connector hose.
Regarding Claim 7, Hsein shows the multipurpose faucet of claim 6, wherein the securing means is a compression nut (see annotated figure below) configured to be removably securable to the accessory supply coupling such that the connector hose can be secured to the accessory supply coupling, or removed from the accessory supply coupling (paragraph 29).
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Regarding Claim 8, Hsein show a method of installing a multipurpose faucet onto a sink, the sink being provided on a countertop and having a set of water connectors underneath the sink, the multipurpose faucet being configured to separately dispense a first supply of water (paragraph 23) and a second supply of water from a water source (paragraph 29), the multipurpose faucet comprising: a first valve (23) configured to dispense the first supply of water through a spout (see annotated figure above), a second valve (3) configured to dispense the second supply of water through an accessory supply coupling (26), a main handle (see annotated figure below) configured to open and close the first valve wherein the main handle is disposed above the first valve (23, Fig. 4), a supply handle (see annotated figure below) configured to open and close the second valve wherein the supply handle is disposed above the second valve (paragraph 28); a set of water lines (21, 22, 27), comprising a hot water hose (22), a cold water hose (21), and an accessory water supply hose (paragraph 29); wherein the hot water hose and the cold water hose each connect the water source to the first valve (paragraph 23), and wherein the accessory water supply hose connects the water source to the second valve (paragraph 29); wherein the accessory supply coupling is configured to receive a connector hose (paragraph 29), and wherein the connector hose supplies the second supply of water to an external device (paragraph 29), the method comprising: placing the multipurpose faucet on an external top side of the sink and through a hole provided in the countertop; securing the multipurpose faucet to the countertop by using a washer (see annotated figure below) and a mounting nut (see annotated figure below) on an underside of the countertop; connecting an adapter to a locking clip on the underside of the countertop; installing the set of water lines to the set of water connectors and to an angle shut-off valve (see annotated figure below); attaching a first end of a connector hose to the accessory supply coupling (paragraph 29); connecting the external device to the multipurpose faucet by attaching a second end of the connector hose to the external device (paragraph 29). Hsien fails to show the accessory supply coupling and the connector hose are disposed below the supply handle. Jang teaches a faucet having an accessory supply coupling (110) and the connector hose are disposed below a supply handle (121). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the accessory supply coupling and the connector hose are disposed below the supply handle in order to allow for the external device to be easily attached to the faucet.
Regarding Claim 9, Hsein shows the method of claim 8, wherein the attaching a first end of a connector hose to the accessory supply coupling step comprises: unscrewing a compression nut (Fig.5) from the accessory supply coupling; placing the connector onto the accessory supply coupling; and reattaching the compression nut to the accessory supply coupling with the connector hose connected such that the connector hose is secured to the accessory supply coupling (paragraph 29).
Regarding Claim 10, Hsein shows the method of claim 8, comprising a faucet body, wherein the spout (see annotated figure above) extends upwards from the faucet body (2), and a mounting shaft extends below the faucet body (see annotate figure above).
Regarding Claim 11, Hsein shows the method of claim 10, wherein the mounting shaft (see annotated figure above) comprises a hollow interior and the set of water lines pass through the hollow interior (Fig.8).
Regarding Claim 12, Hsein shows the method of claim 8, wherein the installing the water lines step comprises connecting each hose of the set of water lines to a corresponding water connector of the set of water connectors (paragraph 23).
Regarding Claim 13, Hsein shows the method of claim 8, wherein the external device is a water ionizer (paragraph 29).
Regarding Claim 14, Hsein shows a system for separately dispensing a first supply of water (21, 22) and a second supply of water (27) from a water source (paragraph 27), the system comprising a multipurpose faucet (2), a connector hose (paragraph 27), and an external device (paragraph 29); the multipurpose faucet comprising: a first valve (23) configured to dispense the first supply of water through a spout (paragraph 29), a second valve (3) configured to dispense the second supply of water through an accessory supply coupling, a main handle (see annotated figure below) configured to open and close the first valve wherein the main handle is disposed above the first valve (23, Fig. 4), a supply handle (see annotated figure below) configured to open and close the second valve wherein the supply handle is disposed above the second valve (paragraph 28); a set of water lines (21, 22, 26), comprising a hot water hose (22), a cold water hose (21), and an accessory water supply hose (26); wherein the hot water hose and the cold water hose each connecting the water source to the first valve (paragraph 23), and wherein the accessory water supply hose connects the water source to the second valve (paragraph 29); wherein the accessory supply coupling is configured to receive the connector hose, and wherein the connector hose supplies the second supply of water to the external device (paragraph 27). Hsien fails to show the accessory supply coupling and the connector hose are disposed below the supply handle. Jang teaches a faucet having an accessory supply coupling (110) and the connector hose are disposed below a supply handle (121). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the accessory supply coupling and the connector hose are disposed below the supply handle in order to allow for the external device to be easily attached to the faucet.
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Regarding Claim 15, Hsein shows the system of claim 14, wherein the external device is a water ionizer (paragraph 29).
Regarding Claim 16, Hsein the system of claim 14, further comprising a securing means (see annotated figure above) on the accessory supply coupling for securely fastening the connector hose.
Regarding Claim 17, Hsein shows the system of claim 16, wherein the securing means is a compression nut (see annotated figure above) configured to be removably securable to the accessory supply coupling such that the connector hose can be secured to the accessory supply coupling, or removed from the accessory supply coupling (paragraph 29).
Regarding Claim 18, Hsein shows the system of claim 14, comprising a faucet body (2), wherein the spout (see annotated figure above) extends upwards from the faucet body, and a mounting shaft extends below the faucet body (see annotated figure above).
Regarding Claim 19, Hsein shows the system of claim 18, wherein the mounting shaft comprises a hollow interior (see annotated figure above) and the set of water lines pass through the hollow interior (Fig.5).
Regarding Claim 20, Hsein shows the system of claim 14, further comprising an angle shut-off valve (see annotate figure above) configured to be connected to each hose of the set of water lines.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1/30/2026 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. The arguments directed toward the new limitations have been addressed in the action above.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAUREN ASHLEY CRANE whose telephone number is (571)270-5198. The examiner can normally be reached Mondays & Tuesdays 8 am - 4pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, David Angwin can be reached at 571-270-3735. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LAUREN A CRANE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754